I’m thrilled to be kicking off Earth Month by partnering with Sun Chips to present the world’s first 100% compostable chip bag. In an effort to take a large step in the right direction, Frito Lay has come up with this unique crinkly bag, which actually does compost. I’m a passionate composter – been doing it for years, and I’m just delighted that a large company such as Frito Lay is helping to encourage moms across the country to get themselves a compost bin and start turning their scraps into something useful and sustainable. Labelling of late has become a tad confusing – for example: what is the difference between “biodegradable” and “compostable” packaging? Actually quite a lot – “biodegradable” means that it will eventually break down (could take years) into smaller and smaller pieces, whereas “compostable” means that in a properly activated compost pile, the packaging will decompose and transform into a odorless, potting soil-like substance, that can be used to great effect in our gardens.
The Sun Chip bag is made out of PLA (polylactic acid), which when chucked into an active compost pile, will decompose in 14 weeks. BTW, the bag is noisy – but honestly who cares! I’d rather have a have a noisy bag than one that adds to the trash that we’ll never ever get rid off. So as far as I’m concerned the bags should be proud to be loud.
I keep a compost crock on my counter, right next to my cutting board and everyday it gets filled with everything from apple cores and egg shells, to tea bags and recipts. It’s literally one of the most satisfying daily green actions that I can take. I hate waste, and to think that all those organic peelings, coffee grounds, wilting lettuce leaves etc, are going straight back into my planters and garden, is rather thrilling.
